The Record: Letters, Feb. 25, 2013

The average increase of 30 cents over the past month is an outrageous rise in gas prices for New Jersey residents as our state continues to lag behind the nation in employment rates. We will not be able to rebound if we are still allowing our gas prices to be determined by oil speculation of hedge funds and big banks.

I applaud The Record for running a story shining a light on the need for Washington to act to bring gas prices down.

On Feb. 7, the Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee voted in a unanimous, bipartisan manner for A-81 to make Congress act so that gas prices would come down for American drivers. We must force Washington to act. Please call your congressman and ask that he support an end to oil speculation.

Tim Eustace

Paramus, Feb. 22

The writer, a Democrat, represents New Jersey's 38th District in the Assembly.

The opinion written states that the evolution of the universe has evolved for 13.7 billion years. A good theory, but again the scientific educational crowd sidesteps from where the universe has evolved. Out of nothing, nothing comes. Hence, something or someone must have always existed. Empirical scientific study points to this universe not being self-existent or without end. Maybe the scientific community could revisit its theory.

Barry Scarch

New Milford, Feb. 20

Climate rally ignored

by The Record

Nearly 50,000 attended the Forward on Climate Rally at the Washington Monument on Feb. 17. Thousands more were at 20-plus solidarity rallies across the country.

On Feb. 13, Washington, D.C., police arrested Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune, board of directors President Allison Chin and 46 other climate-crisis activists outside the While House for engaging in an act of civil disobedience — the first in the club's 120-year history.

The protest was an announcement to President Obama and other leaders that it is vital to take immediate action to combat climate disruption. The action was national news for days afterward, but it was not published in The Record.